MRT, LRT Fare Hike

                      

     If I were to ask you whether you agree to this fare hike in railway transportation, I know I shouldn’t wait an answer for the answer is obvious (or maybe I shouldn’t ask in the first place). It is a big NO, isn’t it? Well, it is really another box to carry on our back. Sino bang valued passenger ang hindi papalag sa planong ‘to ng Department of Transportation and Communication (DoTC)???  AKOOOOO!!!

                         

                        LRT 2

     When I enter college, I started riding LRT 1. And in one of those days, I have asked myself ” Bakit kaya 15 pesos lang pamasahe sa LRT?” Really, it made me curious. When you try to figure it out, 20 pesos ang pamasahe from Baclaran to Monumento using jeepney, 5 pesos higher than LRT fare. E sympre kung ikaw pupunta ng monumento mag-LRT ka na di ba? Aircon na, traffic free pa. Unlike jeep na after mong bumiyahe at kung pormang porma ka, better visit comfort room first kung ayaw mong pagtawanan ng mga makakasalubong mo!

     Dahil sa murang pamasahe, pati mga sidewalk vendors ng Quiapo at Divisoria, sa LRT na sumasakay kaya lalong nagsisikip. Single ticket lang binili nila pero sakop hanggang tatlong tao dahil sa ‘imported baggage’ nila! Whew. The worst, amoy mamang pagod pa yung makakatabi mo! Saklap.

     Eto pa. Dahil sa murang pamasahe na ‘to, kung hindi ikaw ang mananakit, ikaw ang masasaktan! Kung gusto mong makalabas ng buhay, siguraduhin mong close-fisted ang yung kamay while in a boxing position. It is really indeed a battle! And always ready your speech dahil inevitable ang debate inside the train. :))

     What is the point? Dahil sa murang pamasahe, lahat ng tao napapamura sa pangit na service ng LRTA. Imagine, the purpose of having railways is for the ease of traveling, both from ordinary transportation and train, and to avoid heavy traffics around Metro Manila. Ang tanong, naresolba ba yung traffic sa EDSA? Hindi naman di ba? What’s worst nagkakaroon na rin ng human traffic (not human trafficking HAHA) inside LRTs. Mas nagkakagulo tuloy sa loob ng train lalo na kapag delay yung dating ng tren dahil sa pa-VIP pilots! And that is all because of very cheap fare!

     I am not selfish to those who also wanted to ride LRT. Hindi naman sakin yun, in the first place. But the mentioned above were not really my only reason why I agree to this fare hike plan. There is a much deeper reason and much consideration with those in need, those who belonged top the poverty line!

     Maybe you were asking kung anong kinalaman ng mga mahihirap sa usaping ‘to. Let me go back first to my previous question “Bakit kaya 15 pesos lang pamasahe sa LRT?” The answer is because it was subsidized by the government. By how many percent? 75 percent! According to sunstar.com , supposedly 60 pesos ang pamasahe sa LRTs and MRT. But for the paramount consideration of its affordability to the people, the government less it down to 15 pesos as the maximum fare. Which would mean 45 pesos ang pasanin ng gobyerno. Eh how many commuters, all together, do LRT 1and 2 and MRT 3 have everyday? It’s Million men!

     And approximately, 2 BILLION PESOS were alloted by the government for this subsidy every year. Imagine, tinutulungan tayo ng gobyerno ng ganung kalaking halaga sa mga bagay na kaya naman nating gastusan. Or if not, kaya naman nating gawan ng paraan like magjeep or bus na lang instead of riding trains. If you know your burden, better know what is/are other’s burden because of you!

     Marami ng matutulungan mahirap na Pilipino ang 2 BILLION PESOS lalo na’t ibinulgar pa sa atin ni PNoy na 100 Billion pesos na lang ang natitirang budget ng gobyerno. Wag na nating ipagdamot pa sa mga taong ‘to ang 45 pesos na subsidy from the government. Hindi natin ikamamatay yan pero para sa mga taong tinutukoy ko, 45 pesos is already a 2-meal-in-a-day budget!

Street Kid and so helpless! :((

     We better think of our fellowmen first before we complain and condemn. Siguro mas maganda kung tignan mo muna ang paligid mo. Observe what you can see around the streets. Observe what is being situated in every avenue you pass through. Kahit saan ka pa magpunta, you can see only the same scenario.

     Hence, am I being selfish? I don’t think so. So for those who are trying to hit the Aquino government for this move, you better ask yourself if you have been in the right place. Hindi na ako magbabanggit ng militant group na nagbabadya ng ganitong senaryo for they have already knew themselves. Mag-isip naman muna kayo bago kayo magrally, manira at magkalat sa Pilipinas! >’<

Reference:

http://www.mb.com.ph/node/269864